Welcome to RUA Dummy 2?
An understanding of risk can help us manage our lives. Young people need to understand the difference between danger and risk. By assessing the risks involved in a dangerous activity they can make informed choices about their actions. Concerned about the number of injuries amongst those most likely to engage in risk taking behaviour, RoSPA in partnership with The Environment Agency realised there was a need for free resources to assist young people in understanding risk taking behaviour in all aspects of their lives, the focus in this instance was primarily water safety.
There are over 32,000 miles of river, 5,000 miles of canal and literally thousands of lakes and ponds in the UK. These locations are the most common place for people to drown, with over 300 deaths each year. Specific urban sites like canal basins, locks, millponds, millraces and drainage/navigation control sluices have a particularly high death toll.
Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death amongst young people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, after road traffic and fires. Drowning accidents happen due to ignorance and disregard of danger, unrealistic idea of swimming ability, unfamiliar surroundings, and inability to save themselves or be rescued. There are also health risks associated with water, such as Weils disease.
To increase the understanding of hazard and risk, and how to apply this in real life situations. To reduce the number of drowning and severe accidents which have a long-term impact on quality of life. In addition the RUA Dummy 2? aims to help young people understand the difference between dangerous situations and a positive risk taking situation, it also aims to give young people the skills to be able to walk away from a dangerous situation.
The core target audience for RUA Dummy 2? is 12 to 16 year olds, this group is considered to be particularly at risk from injury or drowning. The materials on the website are designed to create discussion about risk taking behaviour, and as such will be useful for older teenagers. There is a sister publication available for 7 to 11 year olds.
RUA Dummy 2? is designed to help teachers, youth workers, volunteers, outdoor centres and anyone else who might organise and work with young people.
So far, RoSPA and The Environment Agency have distributed just under 6,500 of the printed RUA Dummy 2? packs to a wide range of organisations, groups and schools across the country. All of these are as a result of a request for a printed pack (none of the packs have been sent out without request). The initial feedback RoSPA has received, indicates that a printed pack has been viewed by an average of 15 people, based upon this, a conservative estimate of 100,000 young people have used RUA Dummy 2?, or have been in an RUA Dummy 2? workshop across the UK.
We are currently re-evaluating the RUA Dummy 2? and we would appreciate your views on RUA Dummy 2? and how best we can improve these resources in the future - please complete our Contact Form with your comments.
RUA Dummy 2? is a free resource produced by RoSPA and the Environment Agency. However, in order to ensure any new resources we develop meet your needs we ask that you please complete this brief questionnaire before downloading RUA Dummy 2?. Thank you.
HOME